Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also referred to as bassinets and co-sleepers, are designed to allow parents to sleep close to their children at night, without the risk of SIDS. They are only recommended up to 6 months, when your baby is ready to transition to an actual bed.
Mehack is an MFM home tester, was awed by the feature that this model comes with a bassinet that can be used throughout the home. It also features a manual rocking feature. It was also simple to put together and came in its own travel bag for easy storage.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. bedside cosleeper can be converted into toddler beds, whereas the cot beds are typically used until three years old. old. If you're considering a wooden cot, you'll find two sizes to choose from - standard and large - both of which can be converted into a cot bed/toddler mattress. If you'd like your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in the larger cot, it's a great option to select the larger size.
Jasmine, a MFM mum who tested the product at home, liked that it was a bit bigger than the typical Moses basket, but not too big for the baby's room. It's easy to get her baby in and out for feeding or soothing, and that the quality is excellent in comparison to other cots she's seen that feel flimsy.
Another home tester, Emily, likes how the Maxi-Cosi Lora can be used in a variety of ways it's a drop-off bassinet that can be moved around the home, and it's a blast too. It also comes with an option to tilt the reflux upwards and a machine-washable liner that is breathable. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. Unlike some International or European cot brands The Lora can be fitted with South African cot mattresses so you don't need to buy a new mattress as your baby grows. It requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the perfect mattress for your cot here.
Height
When selecting a bedside crib make sure it can be adjusted to the ideal height for you. It must also be lowered to a level that is not in the way so you can raise your child towards you to feed them at night or soothe him. This feature is especially useful if you are recovering from a C section. The Next2me cot and the Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to an maximum height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm and the Knuma Hutch to 70cm.
Another thing to consider is how low you want the base of your cot. Some mums find that it is easier to lift their infants from their standard Moses baskets if the base is at the lowest point and others prefer a higher elevation to give them more stability. One of our testers for mums mentioned that the Joie Roomie Glide was a popular option. It has an easy-to-fold side that which you can use to push of the button.
Keep in mind that a bassinet or bedside sleeping device should only be used in the event that your baby can hold his head without assistance, which is usually at around 6 months. This is due to the possibility of being suffocated. It is also important to be aware that when your child is old enough to turn a bassinet/bedside sleeping system into a cot, they will need to take the sides off when they are ready to do so. This will prevent them from getting out or falling out of bed.
Design
There are a variety of cribs for bedside use with a range of styles from simple to luxurious. The most luxurious models could include features like an integrated night light, a soothing centre that plays sounds and music and offers two levels of vibrations to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or even the swivelling base which allows you to get your baby's food in the right place. You may also find some models that can be converted to an infant bed or a toddler bed (or both), perfect when your child is ready to transition to a bigger bed.
For instance the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air which was awarded Bronze in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Crib, Best Cot or Moses Basket category, has a swivelling base that lets you pick up your newborn and move them from one side of the crib to the other without needing to get out of bed. This makes it perfect for new mums who are recovering from Caesarean births or who require the bed for extended periods of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine loved this feature, saying it was easy to use and made her baby easier especially after a c-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another option. It was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards as the best Cot, Moses Basket, or Crib. It is machine washable and comes with a lining, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's a bit larger than some of the other cribs that we've tried, but it folds flat into its travel bag so it's quite compact when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester also acknowledged the crib's usefulness. She claimed that it was designed for parents and infants. It is a fantastic design that is extremely easy to manoeuvre and it is extremely durable. She said that the bassinet's pivoting base was brilliant because it let you move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lower to make access easier, especially for new mums recovering from c-sections.
Safety
The bedside cot's primary security feature is that it can easily be moved up or down so that parents can reach their child to feed or comfort him or her diaper. This is why it's perfect for new mothers who may still recovering from a C-section. Find a model that allows you to lower one side with the press of a button, so you can easily lift your baby up without having to get out of bed. This is particularly crucial as your baby grows older and more mobile. Do not add anything that may increase the risk of injury or suffocation like duvets and pillows, which can cause your baby to overheat.
The CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to problems with the product that included gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents); fabric-sided enclosed openings (11 incidents) as well as consumer misassembly, or missing components (6 incidents) and other miscellaneous product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR In its NPR, the CPSC examined the possibility of adding additional requirements for bedside sleepers, such as the requirement that these products satisfy the minimum side height requirement for bassinets or at a minimum, meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. However the CPSC determined that these requirements are not practical or effective in reducing the number of incidents where infants were entrapped between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed.
The majority of the reported incidents in the NPR included multi-use bedside sleepers that can be converted to different modes like play yards and bassinets. Many commenters suggested that CPSC include in the proposed rule an alternative option for multiuse bedside sleepers to allow them to meet the minimum side-height requirements for bassinets by using a removable attachment that can be permanently connected or removed when the product is not being used as a bassinet.
The CPSC is currently examining these and other comments received in response to its NPR on sleepers who are bedside. The Commission will consider these comments when it votes on the final rule which is expected to be published in November 2021.